Keeney - Jere
Source: Crawfordsville Journal, Friday, August 7, 1908 - thanks muches, Kim :)
Jere Keeney, Sr., the veteran editor of this part of Indiana, died this morning at one at his residence, 508 west Main street from the infirmities of old age. For some time past Mr. Keeney has been very low and only a week ago was removed back to his home from Culver Union Hospital where he was taken when he first became ill. For several days his condition remained about the same, although he was gradually sinking until the end came at an early hour this morning. On Thursday he talked with his family and seemed to be in the best of spirits. Jere Keeney was born at Somerset, Kentucky, July 3, 1824, and was at the time of his death in his eighty-fifth year. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Keeney. In 1824, when he was five years old, his parents moved to this city and he has since resided here. With the exception of E.A. Wilhite he was the oldest living resident of this city, Crawfordsville was a cluster of log huts situated around where the Lyle & Reynolds foundry now stands. Of the pioneer days of Crawfordsville Mr. Keeney was very fond of reciting. When a boy he said that Indians, mounted on their ponies, would come to this city by a trail that came in by the First Methodist church and followed the ravine that ran through the college campus past the site where the coffin factory is now located and on to the creek. These Indians camped in the ravine west and be sheltered from the wind. They would bring furs to Major Elston, the first merchant of this city, who had a store where where the Elston bank now stands. Other many interesting stories of pioneer days in Crawfordsville were told by Mr. Keeney, one of them being that he had seen nine flat boats loaded with grain and produce start down Sugar creek from the foot of Washington for New Orleans. Judge Naylor took the boats down after having disposed of the cargo walked back home. At that that time Sugar creek was large enough to float a steamship if there was one here. When eleven years old Mr. Keeney took a message to the business men of Longansport from this city. The trip was made on horseback. Mr. Keeney was united in marriage to Miss Sarah G. Stansfield at South Bend on October 8, 1851. To this union seven children were born, three of whom are now dead. The deceased are Miss Mattie Keeney, who was for a number of years court reporter, Mrs. W.T. Miller and Miss Sallie Keeney. Mrs Keeney, wife of the veteran editor, died June 1, 1901. The surviving members of the family are Jere M Keeney, Jr. of Danville, Ill., Dr. Stanfield Keeney, of Indianapolis; Miss Anna L. Keeney and Mrs. Bessie Lilian Coffman of this city. The deceased began is newspaper career in this city in 1835 as a printer's "devil" at the office of the Crawfordsville Record, the first newspaper published in this county. His duty was to ink the press, it being done by dipping bags into the ink and then rubbing it over the type. When twenty years of age he took charge of the mechanical department of the People's Press, which was established in 1844 in order that the Whigs of this county might have an organ for the Henry Clay campaign for president. After the People's Press had ceased to exist Mr. Keeney and Dr. W.T. Fry purchased the plant in 1848 and began the publication of The Journal. After continuing for seven years Mr. Keeney and Dr. Fry disposed of the paper, which reverted to Mr. keeney about a year later. He continued the publication of The Journal until 1866. Since his retirement from active newspaper work Mr. Keeney always looked with pride upon The Journal, of which he was the joint founder. In 1871 he began the publication of The Star. After continuing the publication of The Star for sixteen years he retired from the newspaper field and his son, Jere M. Keeney, Jr., continued the publication of it until it ws sold to S.D Symmes, who afterward disposed of it to The Journal, which suspended it publication. The articles from Mr. Keeney's pen were to the point and if he thought a man was crooked he did not hesitate to say so and if he believed him to be on the "square" he did likewise. Politically he was a staunch Republican, but his publications as a rule were independent. Although he was not a member of any church he was very liberal in church affairs. While in manner he was gruff and seemingly rough, he was yet as kind hearted as a babe. During his life he built the house now occupied by S.D. Symmes in Highland, and also the Smock property at the corner of Washington and Franklin street. The latter house was built before the Big Four railroad entered this city by way of that street. The funeral will be held at the residence Saturday afternoon. Interment at Oak Hill cemetery.